Chapter Text
Reo Mikage hated birthdays.
By the time he hit four years old—old enough to know what birthdays were—his eyes twinkled with delight upon hearing stories in primary school. Countless tales of his classmates' moms baking them delicious treats, inviting playmates over for their party, and going on fun trips with family.
But sooner than later, Reo realized that he was different from the other kids.
Birthdays for Reo weren't comfortable gatherings spent with his loved ones. They're neither excitable chit-chat over delicious food nor fun afternoons in the theme park. Instead, they're parties in five-star hotels too extravagant for his liking. Evenings spent in a crisp black suit entertaining Mikage Corporation stakeholders like he's a brand new car in a showroom. It's been like that ever since he can remember. Years of being an afterthought in a day that's supposed to be his.
Everything's at the behest of his father. He was good at it, amazing even, in giving Reo the illusion of choice. Reo always thought he's in control of his own life, but he eventually realized it's the opposite. His hobbies, his schooling, everything was perfectly orchestrated by his father to mold him as the suitable heir. No exceptions.
Until he found a new dream, that is.
A voice pulled Reo out of his thoughts.
"Young master Mikage, we've arrived."
"Oh."
Reo belatedly realized that the car had stopped. He gave his chauffeur a short nod before gazing outside tinted windows. The vehicle stopped by the entrance of the high-rise hotel where a grand celebration would be held.
It's that time of the year again, a cool Sunday night. The 17th birthday of Mikage Corporation's sole heir.
Eight people approached their car to welcome them. One gracefully opened the car door.
"Good evening Mikage-sama," the only woman of the bunch greeted Reo as he stepped out of the car. She was tall and had a sophisticated air about her. Her father's secretary.
"Good evening..." Reo discreetly glanced at the woman's name tag. Takaguchi Aya. Right. "... Takaguchi-san."
It took him a little too long to say her name, but Takaguchi-san smiled regardless. "Happy birthday. We're here to escort you to the venue."
The rest of the men–bodyguards– surrounded Reo as they made their way to the function hall. Reo felt awkward from all the staring. The other hotel guests were considerably wealthy, but suited men flanking Reo from all sides screamed how high-profile he was. He focused on the click-clack of Takaguchi-san's heels on the marble floor to distract himself.
After riding the elevator and walking some more, they finally stopped in front of a massive door with long, steel handles. His personal gateway to hell.
"We're here."
Reo sighed. Here goes nothing.
As usual, the first thing Reo noticed upon entering was the grandiosity of the venue. His parents booked an even larger place this year, with huge crystal chandeliers blanketing the hall in soft, warm light. Gold-clothed tables with rose centerpieces neatly lined the carpeted floor. Classical music drifted in the air courtesy of a mini-orchestra performing from the indoor balcony.
And, of course, the guests. A black, gold, and silver sea engaged in the usual chatter as Takaguchi-san led Reo to his parents. He picked up bits of conversation as they waded through the crowd: stories of recent mergers, weekend shopping, yacht getaways outside Tokyo. The cacophony of noises made his head hurt.
"Reo!"
Mikage Reina's smile was bright as she finally spotted her son. She excitably engulfed Reo in a hug. "You're finally here! I don't understand why you didn't come with us earlier. Does it take that long to get ready?"
Reo smiled despite himself. He can't admit he spent the whole afternoon thinking whether he should go or not. "I needed to make sure my hair looked perfect."
His response elicited a chuckle from his mom. Reina caressed her son's hair and cooed, "My baby looks extra cute and handsome today."
Reo's father preferred that he let down his hair when attending social events. It's more formal that way. You look like a delinquent with your hair up. Reo preferred the same, but being told what to do was annoying. So Reo chopped off half the hair framing one side of his face and grew out the other to look less formal. Not everything needed to go his father's way.
"Reo."
Unfortunately, today's the day where things go exactly his way.
Without his usual stubble and messy hair, Mikage Rennosuke had a dignified appearance. His slicked-back hair and clean-shaven face made him look younger and regal. He stopped in front of Reo and squeezed his shoulder.
"Are you excited to celebrate your birthday, my son?"
You mean a corporate gathering disguised as a birthday party.
"Yes, sir."
Reo's smile didn't quite reach his eyes like all the other times before. No one ever notices.
An hour into the party and Reo's already exhausted.
The event formally started with Reo's father delivering his customary speech onstage. His firm grip on Reo's shoulder was borderline painful as Rennosuke thanked the guests for coming. Reo tried his best to keep a straight face. As if these people cared about him.
He didn't even have the luxury to eat in peace. While his parents entertained prominent people left and right, the lesser-known guests flocked around Reo's table like sheep. He smiled and nodded at their driveling while holding in the urge to just flip the table and walk out.
The crowd thinned out eventually. Only a middle-aged woman remained who sat beside Reo to share her daughter's marriage prospects.
"She likes someone rich, handsome, and smart. Just like you!" The boisterous woman shook Reo's wrist, causing him to drop the piece of cake he stabbed with a fork. Reo rolled his eyes discreetly. Shamelessness accompanied adulthood, so it seems.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. Reo muttered a quiet "excuse me" before taking it out of his pocket.
His eyes widened at the message.
From: Nagi
How's it going there?
It's smack in the middle of summer break, but it's business as usual in the football club. Last Friday, after practice, Reo babbled about how much he dreaded this day. Nagi nodded nonchalantly while thumbing at his phone, so Reo didn't know whether he was paying attention.
Nagi already sent him a birthday message earlier. He didn't expect more.
Reo rose from his seat a little too quickly, startling the woman. "Excuse me for a moment."
The guards manning the entrance let him out when he gestured to his phone. Outside, another set of guards was stationed on watch. All eyes were on Reo as he leaned against the wall fronting the door. They quickly looked away when he frowned at them.
Reo stared at his phone. Nagi's Line icon with the X mouth stared back at him. Maybe it's the need for comfort. Perhaps he just needed somebody to talk to. Whatever it was, it didn't matter.
Reo pressed "Call." He sighed in relief when Nagi immediately picked up.
["Hey, Reo."]
Hearing Nagi's monotone voice immediately drained the tension from Reo's shoulders.
He smiled his first genuine smile of the night. "Hey."
["How's the party going?"]
Reo turned to his side. He won't risk the guards hearing their employer's client bitch about his birthday. Pressing his shoulder to the wall, he whispered, "Going well for everybody except me, apparently."
Nagi hummed. ["Does the food suck?" ]
Reo snorted. "The food's the only good thing here. But I'm not in the mood to eat so I didn't eat much. What are you doing right now?"
The soft 8-bit music and clicking sounds in the background answered his question before Nagi did. The latter probably had him on speakerphone. ["Playing video games."]
"I'm surprised you picked up."
["When do I not?" ]
Reo blinked. Well, he's right. If there's one thing about Nagi that perplexed Reo, it's his promptness in replying to texts and answering calls. Nagi's listlessness plagued him most of the time, but he's surprisingly motivated to do unexpected things.
"I'm bored out of my mind. The event's not halfway done and I still need to give a speech later. I don't even know if I can keep faking a smile throughout this whole thing."
A momentary silence filled the line before Nagi replied, ["You really hate being there, huh."]
Closing his eyes, Reo let out a defeated sigh. He will always be grateful for being born into a wealthy family. But times like this made him wish he lived a normal life instead.
Is he being ungrateful?
Either way, the world makes things unfair one way or another.
"I want to have a normal birthday for once. To be away from all this." Away from strangers, away from the clutches of his family name. A day where he can be just himself. "But what can I do?"
When he didn't get an answer, Reo mentally cursed himself. Great, he's souring the mood. Considering how much he's working Nagi to the bone during summer break, he shouldn't impose on his free time and trouble him like this.
(It's not like he makes Nagi worry anyway. They've been hanging out and playing football together for months, but he still didn't know what Nagi thought of him. He's terrified to ask, so there's no way to know.)
(But Reo, he absolutely adored Nagi. He didn't know if it's apathy or simply indifference, but Nagi's laid-back presence struck Reo in a way no one ever did. Every day, he holds on to his dream with an exhausting fierceness, and Nagi's calm acceptance of the things that come and go grounds him. A soothing balm for his weary heart.
Admitting that terrified him too, so he doesn't.)
Reo gazed at the vast, empty corridor. If he just walked ahead and turned left, he could ride the elevator and escape from here.
If only he could run away.
Reo smiled somberly and shook his head. There's no use thinking about it. He'll just endure everything like always, like all the years that came by and the ones to come.
It's just a stupid birthday.
It's dead silent on Nagi's end now. The incessant clicking and video game sounds were nowhere to be heard. Nagi's probably scrolling through his phone in bed or, worse, sleeping. Guilt bubbled up Reo's throat.
"I guess I'm keeping you from playing your game." Reo let out a clipped, forced laugh. "Thanks for the breather. I'll talk to you next-"
["Hang out with me, then."]
Reo froze. He must be hearing things.
"Sorry? What..."
He heard shuffling, like Nagi's sorting through fabric. Clothes? ["Do you have enough cash for a taxi ride?"]
"Enough cash for a taxi ride?" Reo parroted, absent-mindedly patting his suit pocket. Sure enough, there's money. Nagi knew his habit of stuffing bills in his pockets in case of emergencies. But what does that have to do with anything?
["I looked up the hotel you're in and it's close to a place I know. Your phone's fully charged, right? I'll send you the location. Let's meet there.]
Suddenly, it dawned on Reo.
Nagi's telling him to ditch his own birthday party.
To run away.
So far, Reo hasn't done anything drastic enough to upset his father. Playing football is against his father's wishes, but Reo makes sure to perform excellently in school to appease him. His dream to win the World Cup is achieved in the long haul. It wouldn't do him good to rock the boat and lose his father's financial support for his club.
Ditching his birthday is not just rocking the boat. It's turning the boat over.
However, there's an unmistakable sound of something breaking inside him. It's the sound of his mask, the mask he always wore as the perfect, dutiful son, chipping away at the edges. The rational part of his brain desperately struggled to keep the cracks on hold. But not for long.
Reo exhaled shakily. "I-I can't just go like this, Nagi. I… my father-"
["Take it or leave it, Mikage."] was Nagi's firm reply.
And then he hung up.
It's splitting, splintering—
For a few moments, Reo only stared dumbfoundedly at his phone. Nagi never calls him by his family name because he told him not to. Until tonight, that is. A multitude of emotions—shock, thrill, awe, even mild annoyance—swirled in his chest.
Reo approached the bodyguards.
—shattering.
"I'm going to the bathroom," he suddenly announced.
The bodyguards' expressions morphed into confusion. One of them spoke up. "There's a bathroom inside the function hall, sir-"
"I prefer using the one at the end of the hallway. Don't worry, I'll be back." They still looked skeptical, so Reo added, "There's no way I'll escape in the middle of my birthday, right?"
The guards looked at each other and came to a silent consensus. The person who initially responded nodded hesitantly. Reo walked calmly to the end of the hall, steps measured and calculated to not give away any hint of urgency.
As soon as he turned left at the corner, he made a break for it.
Leaving the hotel was surprisingly easy.
Only authorized staff and guests can access the floor reserved for the party, but they're all free to ride the elevator back to the other floors. Such automated security didn't warrant additional guards. Once Reo reached the first floor, he breezed through the expansive lobby and check-in counter without anybody recognizing him. Arriving separately from his parents worked to his advantage.
It didn't take long for Reo to hail a taxi outside the hotel. He relayed the address Nagi sent and asked the driver how long it took to get there.
Fifteen minutes. Huh. Reo leaned his elbow on the window frame. Nagi messaged him the location without any follow-up. He didn't know whether to be touched or irked at Nagi's blind faith in him.
The driver's estimate was accurate. After fifteen minutes, Reo was dropped off on a sidewalk beside a wide pedestrian lane. He leaned against the metal railings while waiting and observed the vicinity. From the looks of it, Reo's in the heart of a shopping district. The area was fairly crowded; people passing by either carried food or huge paper bags. Tall buildings with colorful lights littered the place, but nothing stood out to him. Why would Nagi...?
Reo flinched in surprise when a hand tapped his arm.
He slowly turned to his side. The previously empty spot beside him was now occupied. Nagi had an easy smile on his face as he greeted Reo.
"You're early."
Reo gawked at the sight of Nagi wearing a cream-colored hoodie, sweatpants and chunky sneakers. The two mostly hang out in school or after class, so seeing his friend out of his uniform and practice clothes was a rarity. Nagi looked good in neutral colors. Reo should gift him clothes for Christmas, preferably a sweater or-
Nagi lightly knocked on his forehead. The pain registered late.
"... Ow."
"Where'd you go?"
Reo glared sharply as he rubbed his battered forehead. The knock rattled his brain enough for recent events to flash rapidly in his mind. Right, he's pretty fucked right now.
"You're insane. I can't believe what you just made me do," Reo said in disbelief. "My father will kill me."
"So you're going back?" Nagi didn't look alarmed in the slightest, his gaze calm and unyielding. Reo just sighed.
"... No."
Reo didn't know if he imagined it, but he saw a tinge of relief in Nagi's smile. The latter gave Reo a once-over. "You look great."
The purple-haired boy looked down at his single-breasted suit and leather shoes. The contrast between their outfits was almost comedic like one didn't get the memo on what to wear. Nonetheless, Reo's cheeks warmed at the compliment. "Thanks."
Suddenly, Nagi made a twirling motion with his finger. "Turn around."
"Huh? Why?"
"Just do it."
Reo raised a confused brow as he followed Nagi's instructions. But before he could ask what's up, he froze at the feeling of fingers touching his hair. His jaw hung open in surprise.
"What are you...?"
Nagi didn't answer, opting to continue whatever he's doing. The whole thing should have been disconcerting, but because it's Nagi, Reo welcomed the touch. His scalp tingled pleasantly as gentle fingers raked through his hair. Nagi's thumb lightly grazed the spot above his ear, and Reo's traitorous heart jumped—stop, stop doing that stupid thing! Once his hair was gathered in one hand, he finally realized what was happening.
Nagi's tying his hair.
Reo closed his eyes and focused on the rhythmic motion of his hair being pulled through a hair tie (did Nagi bring it just for him?). He knew the feeling like the back of his hand, but it's strangely different when Nagi's doing it.
His heart didn't beat as fast when he did it by himself.
Finally, Nagi let go. The pitter-patter of Reo's heart mellowed into soft drumming. He patted his ponytail. Not too tight, not too loose. Just the way he liked it. But what was it for?
Almost as if Nagi heard his mind, he said, "Your hair will be in the way."
Reo whirled around and shot his friend a puzzled look. "In the way of what?"
The corners of Nagi's mouth turned up in a smile.
"Eating. Everything's my treat."
With Nagi in the lead, the two went deeper into the shopping district. They eventually stopped by the entrance to a wide market street. An illuminated arch signage bearing the market name welcomed them.
A passerby bumped Reo in the shoulder. Only then did he notice the influx of people entering and exiting the place.
"What a crowd."
Nagi grabbed his wrist. "Can't afford you getting lost."
"I'm not a kid," Reo retorted, ironically allowing himself to be dragged inside. He marveled in child-like wonder at the place. He knew about street markets, but it's the first time he's been to one. Countless stalls selling different things lined up ahead of them: fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, clothes, shoes, jewelry, electronics, furniture, wares, you name it. A place with a bit of everything.
"We have that ornamental mirror at home." Reo gestured to a store they had just passed by.
"There's no way they'll display items worth millions out in the open. It's probably an imitation."
Reo resisted the urge to pout. It's not like every trinket in their house costs millions of yen. Maybe.
"It's probably not that expensive..."
Reo's voice trailed off when he noticed a delicious smell wafting in the air. Despite the thick crowd, Reo's height worked to his advantage. He saw the exact moment they entered the street food section of the market. The stalls sold a huge variety of food: from takoyaki, yakisoba, and croquettes, to delightful desserts such as dorayaki and dango. The amalgam of savory smells made his stomach rumble.
"Wow..."
Nagi steered Reo toward a wooden ramen cart on their left. It was modestly sized and decorated with red paper lanterns and banners. Stools surrounded the cart, with the owner putting on a culinary show inside for the customers.
Nagi parted one of the banners and gestured for Reo to sit down. Luckily, two seats were still unoccupied. The owner smiled upon seeing Nagi, clearly recognizing him.
"Not with your dad today?"
Nagi shook his head as he sat on the remaining stool. "I brought a friend. Tonkotsu ramen with gyoza on the side. Two sets."
"Coming right up."
Reo eagerly watched the owner prepare the wheat noodles. He saw countless ramen chefs do their magic before, but never in a cramped space like this.
"Take off your suit. It's hot in here," Nagi advised. Reo peeled off his suit, leaving his dress shirt and tie. He didn't feel that hot, but he's also not in his element right now. Who knows? Maybe the heat from night markets can make one feel faint. Listening to Nagi was for the best.
Behind Reo, a steady stream of people continued to pass by. Excitable chatter and sounds of trade filled the streets. Reo didn't know such the hustle and bustle could sound so comforting. Compared to the pin-drop silence of family dinners and fake grating pleasantries of social events, this was much better.
Finally, the chef served their dinner—Reo's second and Nagi's first for the night.
"Careful. You're gonna drool all over them."
Reo pressed a thumb beside his mouth in case he's really drooling. The piping-hot ramen looked and smelled heavenly—silky noodles in a creamy broth topped with perfectly cooked chashu, boiled eggs, and mushrooms. Reo's ravenous.
The birthday boy wasted no time snatching the utensils. As soon as Reo slurped the noodles, rich, flavorful umami burst on his tongue. He wolfed down a portion of the ramen first, alternating between the soup, noodles, and toppings before taking a bite of the gyoza. Ugh. Absolutely divine. Everything's so delicious he could burst into tears.
"Am I in heaven?"
"Does it satisfy your refined palate?" Nagi teased before going for another slurp.
"Are you kidding?! This is better than what I have most of the time." Reo's nose crunched at remembering his parents'... questionable food choices one too many times. "Luxurious food isn't as good as you think."
And then he remembered that Nagi's also well-off. So was everyone in school, if the exorbitant tuition fees were anything to go by. But it's easy to forget Nagi's parents own a booming chain of traditional Japanese restaurants when Reo always treats him to food. The irony.
He made a mental note to visit next time. "Not that you don't know."
Nagi just shrugged. "I don't. My parents sell common food."
"Yeah, right."
The two lapsed into a comfortable silence as they finished their dinner. Reo glugged the last of the ramen soup and patted his warmed stomach. As he dabbed his mouth with a tissue, he wondered how Nagi knew of the place.
"My dad visits places like this regularly to mine new ideas," Nagi answered. Oh, Reo might have said that aloud. "He takes me with him sometimes. This is one of the places I liked."
"Hmm..." Reo slid Nagi the box of tissues beside him at his request. He felt a sharp pang in his chest. How could he miss a place he hasn't even left yet? "Lucky you. I'd love to eat here every day."
Nagi's hand froze on the tissue box. He surveyed Reo's expression, eyes pensive and searching.
"We can go again next time," Nagi assured.
Reo's eyes widened. He didn't expect that at all. "Really?"
Nagi smiled. "Yeah."
The promise of a next time filled Reo with excitement.
"I'll hold on to that," he said, grinning.
After eating in the ramen cart, Reo and Nagi visited more food stalls. The whole birthday thing killed Reo's appetite. He only pecked at the party food earlier, not to mention eating a tiny portion of salad the entire day. But now, he's gorging every food they came across: takoyaki, grilled squid, yakisoba, and various treats one after another. Reo eagerly munched on a strawberry crepe, the sweet whipped cream melting on his tongue. Nagi shoved a tissue on a dollop of cream covering Reo's nose out of the blue, making him laugh.
Eventually, Reo's feet started to hurt. Nagi seemed to notice his discomfort. He stopped sipping his lemon drink. "Are you tired?"
"No, my shoes didn't break in yet. They hurt a little. Don't worry, it's manageable."
Nagi shot him a look that's equal parts judgy and amused. "Do you buy new shoes for every social event?"
Reo scrunched his nose, abhorred at the accusation. "Not me. My mother. I told her a thousand times I have enough shoes to last a lifetime. She won't listen."
Nagi looked around quietly for a moment. "Are there still stuff you wanna try? Let's buy them real quick before leaving. I know where to find some benches. We can rest there."
There's one last thing Reo wanted to try. "I was thinking of getting some dango."
"Okay. Let's do that."
The two approached a nearby dango stall and checked out the various flavors. Nagi opted for takeout so he could bring something home to his parents. Reo did the same, fearing he'd have heartburn if he continued eating. He'll sneak little bites here and there on the way home (maybe in front of his father, too if he still has some spunk left in him).
After leaving the market, the pair went to a quieter and narrower shopping district area lined with small stores. The air felt fresher given the absence of cars and the trees that littered the place. Reo sat on one of the benches while Nagi visited a nearby convenience store.
Across Reo, LED TVs from a brightly lit electronics store played some chick-flick movie. He briefly wondered whether the store sold stuff from Mikage Corporation. He stood up to check it out, but the looming feeling of dread made him slump back to his seat.
Right. His father must be seething right now. He'll be grounded and miss days of practice for sure. Or worse, be forced to quit the football club.
Anxiety painfully gnawed at Reo's insides. It won't get to that point, right?
No! Stop. He'll worry when it's time to face the consequences. The deed's done. Reo already defied his parents. He'll gladly savor the time left before his inevitable punishment. Reo can't lose heart after everything Nagi did for him.
Nagi...
Reo looked at the dango boxes—his and Nagi's— neatly stacked on a pile beside him. Why did Nagi bring him here? He's been having so much fun that he forgot to think about the why. Nagi eagerly invited him out for dinner and paid for everything tonight. What's there to gain from wasting his time and money on Reo like this?
Is he...? To Nagi-?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Like magic, a hand holding an ice cream entered his field of vision.
"You're spacing out again."
Nagi's back from his convenience store run. A plastic bag dangled from his wrist shoved in his pocket. He wiggled the ice cream when Reo didn't budge. The action effectively roused Reo from his stupor. He flashed a thankful smile and accepted the ice cream. Sitting beside Reo, Nagi fished an ice cream sandwich from the plastic bag. The two spent the next few minutes in silence, relishing in the cool night air as they ate their snacks.
It's always comfortable being with Nagi. Whether it's the electric buzz of excitement in the field or the serenity of afternoons spent hanging out together, they all put Reo's heart at ease. Reo's world often turns dizzily, leaving him gasping for air. Somehow, with Nagi, time stills, and Reo can catch his breath.
Maybe because Nagi treated him differently. No, he treated him normally. He didn't put Reo on a pedestal like other people did. To Nagi, Reo's his equal. And being seen as an equal meant that he could be just himself. Their relationship may have started out transactional-it still was, partly, if Reo treating Nagi to free food was any indication- but something has changed. To Reo, at least.
And in more ways than one.
Reo popped the cone tip into his mouth and chewed slowly. Beside him, Nagi shoved his now empty ice cream packaging back into the bag. He's currently immersed on the LED TVs across them, still streaming the same movie. Nagi huffed in amusement at a particular catfight scene, shoulders shaking with mirth.
An unexplainable emotion gripped Reo's heart at sight.
"Thank you."
Reo looked away as soon as Nagi's gaze shifted to him. He's never been this afraid, afraid that his expression will betray his feelings.
"Thanks. For inviting me out and for treating me food," Reo repeated, focusing on a spot on the ground. He let a small smile grace his face. "Imagine how shocked I was when you invited me out. You normally find these things bothersome."
"I've been forced to celebrate my birthday with strangers since I was young. I thought I'd be used to it by now, but it doesn't get any easier." Reo placed a palm over his chest as if pressing an imaginary button to unlock his heart. "I wanted to spend my birthday like other kids. Whenever I get invited to home parties or hear about family birthday trips, I'm so envious I could die."
The admission, albeit shameful, was something Reo can wholeheartedly share. To the person, he knew who understood him. Whom he trusted to understand.
"Hanging out normally like this and eating good food... They're more than I could ever ask for." With a deep breath, Reo faced Nagi and smiled. "So thank you. I'm glad you're here with me."
Nagi's face was unreadable for the most part. There's a glimmer of surprise in his expression, but it's just one among the plethora of emotions lurking in his vibrant, teal eyes. It's different from the usual empty look Nagi sported. His deep gaze communicated something that Reo couldn't decipher this time.
Worry coiled in Reo's stomach when the silence stretched longer than it should have. Did he say something wrong? Did he overshare?
When he contemplated letting the ground swallow him, Nagi finally responded.
"You're not a bother at all."
Nagi's voice was soft, but the firmness in his tone didn't go unnoticed. As if his words were meant to reassure Reo. The gears in Reo's mind came to a halt all at once. He unblinkingly stared at Nagi as a silent epiphany hit him.
So much for mental gymnastics. Reo didn't need to rack his brain to figure out why Nagi accompanied him throughout the night. The answer was in plain sight all along.
Nagi liked spending time with him too. He wasn't a bother to deal with. Because he's Nagi's friend, in the same way, Nagi's a friend of his.
Reo supposed that the ambiguity of their relationship made him doubtful. Anxious, too, maybe. But where they stand is a little bit clearer now.
A light chuckle bubbled from Reo's throat. "Out of everything I said, you felt the need to comment on that?"
Nagi just smiled, gaze not leaving Reo. "Since I treated you out, can I skip the gift-giving? Now that's a bother."
Reo shook his head amusingly. "I never expected one from you, anyways. You're not the type to do that."
"How sure are you?"
"As sure as the fact that I'm going to be grounded."
"Wow, I'm hurt." Nagi had a faraway look on his face for a moment. He chucked a hand in his hoodie pocket. "Close your eyes for a second."
"What, now you want me to close my eyes?"
"Just do it."
Reo didn't offer much resistance and did what he was told. Something dropped on his lap. It's light, almost weightless. Reo's curiosity prompted him to immediately open his eyes.
Resting on his lap was a small gold pouch.
Reo instantly put two and two together.
It's a gift from Nagi.
Warmth surged from Reo's chest all throughout his body. He held the pouch in his hands and gingerly untied the silver ribbon securing it. He watched with bated breath as the thing inside slipped onto his palm.
It's a hair clip. Attached to it were small flowers and gold stems connecting leaves of light purple and pink gradients. A lone, dark purple bead hung from the piece, giving it an elegant look.
"Try it on."
Reo's breath hitched as Nagi gently pulled his hair tie, letting purple hair cascade freely. He suddenly became hyper-aware of his surroundings: the hair tickling the back of his neck, the cold night breeze, the phantom warmth of Nagi's touch.
Reo held strands of his hair and pinned them with the hair clip. He neatly slotted them behind his ear before finally looking at Nagi.
His heartbeats picked up a dangerous pace when Nagi flashed a fond (Reo could only describe it as such) smile.
"It suits you. Happy birthday, Reo."
Reo had no shortage of grandiose gifts in his life. The thought of getting more made him sick to his stomach. Because he knew people only gave them for show. To make their presence known to the Mikages. Those gifts weren't given in consideration of Reo's happiness.
Nagi bought his gift for him with no ulterior motive in mind. It was simply to make him happy.
Words weren't enough to express Reo's gratitude. But words were all he could offer right now.
"Thank you, Nagi." Reo shyly ran his fingers over the hair clip. "I don't know when I can wear this, though."
"-mer festival."
"Huh?"
"You can wear that during the summer festival."
Nagi timidly rubbed the back of his neck. Reo wondered if the rosy tint dusting his pale cheeks was a fragment of his imagination. It probably was.
"They're holding one next week." Traces of a bright emotion—something like hope— flickered in Nagi's eyes. "It's not around here, but... We can go together. If you want."
Reo couldn't count the times he'd been stunned into speechlessness in a single night. His heart overflowed with affection to the point of bursting. There's no use denying it.
(He liked Nagi more than he can say.)
His gaze fell on Nagi's hand splayed on the bench, just inches away from his own. Reo will be brave enough to reach for it someday.
He shifted closer to Nagi instead. For now, it's more than enough.
Reo grinned brightly. "Your treat? It's still my birthday month, after all."
"... Fine."
"Deal. I can't wait to beat you in so many games!"
"You know who you're talking to, right?"
"Being good at video games doesn't mean you're good at all games, Mr. Gamer."
"We'll see."